Visualization of tree-structured data through generative topographic mapping.

In this paper, we present a probabilistic generative approach for constructing topographic maps of tree-structured data. Our model defines a low-dimensional manifold of local noise models, namely, (hidden) Markov tree models, induced by a smooth mapping from low-dimensional latent space. We contrast our approach with that of topographic map formation using recursive neural-based techniques, namely, the self-organizing map for structured data (SOMSD) (Hagenbuchner , 2003).

A single channel for nitrate uptake, nitrite export and nitrite uptake by Escherichia coli NarU and a role for NirC in nitrite export and uptake.

Two related polytopic membrane proteins of the major facilitator family, NarK and NarU, catalyse nitrate uptake, nitrite export and nitrite uptake across the Escherichia coli cytoplasmic membrane by an unknown mechanism. A 12-helix model of NarU was constructed based upon six alkaline phosphatase and beta-galactosidase fusions to NarK and the predicted hydropathy for the NarK family. Fifteen residues conserved in the NarK-NarU protein family were substituted by site-directed mutagenesis, including four residues that are essential for nitrate uptake by Aspergillus nidulans: arginines Arg(87) and Arg(303) in helices 2 and 8, and two glycines in a nitrate signature motif.

Large-scale fabrication of ordered metallic hybrid nanostructures.

A low-cost and high-throughput method for the fabrication of large-area ordered hybrid metallic nanostructure arrays is presented. Each structure unit is a nanobowl with a hexagonal distributed pillar array upon it. A self-assembled monolayer of polystyrene (PS) nanospheres is used as a template.

Fibromyalgia pain and its modulation by hypnotic and non-hypnotic suggestion: an fMRI analysis.

The neuropsychological status of pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, commonly categorized as 'psychosomatic' or 'functional' disorders, remains controversial. Activation of brain structures dependent upon subjective alterations of fibromyalgia pain experience could provide an insight into the underlying neuropsychological processes. Suggestion following a hypnotic induction can readily modulate the subjective experience of pain.

Evaluation of solvent accessibility epitopes for different dehydrogenase inhibitors.

Knowledge about the orientation of ligands or inhibitors bound to a protein is vital for the development of new drugs. It was recently shown that solvent accessibility epitopes for protein ligands can be mapped by transferring magnetization from water molecules to the ligand to derive the ligand orientation. This is based on the fact that NMR signals of ligands arising from magnetization transferred from solvent molecules via the protein have a different sign from those arising from direct magnetization transfer from bulk water.

Triclosan resistance in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to characterize the mechanisms of resistance to triclosan in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

Methods: Mutants resistant to triclosan were selected from nine S. enterica serovar Typhimurium strains.

Proteomic analysis of triclosan resistance in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine and compare the proteomes of three triclosan-resistant mutants of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in order to identify proteins involved in triclosan resistance.

Methods: The proteomes of three distinct but isogenic triclosan-resistant mutants were determined using two-dimensional liquid chromatography mass separation. Bioinformatics was then used to identify and quantify tryptic peptides in order to determine protein expression.

Modelling effects of stair width on rates of stair climbing in a train station.

Objectives: Commuters leaving a station often choose the stair as a quicker exit than the escalator. This paper models the effects of speed leaving the station and stair width on choice of the stairs or escalator.

Methods: Aggregated data from previous studies (n=82,347) revealed a plateau at about 45% stair use as the number leaving each train rose.

Psychometric properties of the 7-Day Physical Activity Recall questionnaire in individuals with severe mental illness.

Few self-report measures of physical activity have been validated in individuals with severe mental illness. The purpose of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of a 7-day recall measure (7DR: [Blair, S. N.

Re-framing 'binge drinking' as calculated hedonism: empirical evidence from the UK.

Background: Recent debates on 'binge drinking' in the UK have represented the activities of young drinkers in urban areas as a particular source of concern, as constituting a threat to law and order, a drain on public health and welfare services and as a source of risk to their own future health and well being. The discourse of moral panic around young people's 'binge drinking' has pervaded popular media, public policy and academic research, often differentiating the excesses of 'binge drinking' from 'normal' patterns of alcohol consumption, although in practice definitions of 'binge drinking' vary considerably. However, recent research in this area has drawn on the notion of 'calculated hedonism' to refer to a way of 'managing' alcohol consumption that might be viewed as excessive.

Potential of metabolic agents as adjunct therapies in heart failure.

Heart failure continues to have a significant morbidity and mortality rate despite several recent advances in treatment such as additional neurohumoral blockades and cardiac resynchronization therapy. There is emerging evidence that, irrespective of etiology, heart failure is associated with an energetic disorder and that this may contribute to the pathogenesis of the syndrome. Recently, a number of studies have suggested that some metabolic agents may have potential as adjunctive therapy in patients with heart failure.

A new approach to isolation and culture of human Kupffer cells.

Macrophages are a diverse population of cells that are able to adapt to specific tissue environments. Kupffer cells are liver resident macrophages and form the largest population of fixed tissue macrophages. Their isolation offers an exciting opportunity to study this subpopulation of uniquely adapted cells.

Secondary structure and 1H, 13C and 15N resonance assignments of the Escherichia coli YaeT POTRA domain.

We report the first 1H, 13C and 15N chemical shift assignments and secondary structure of the Escherichia coli YaeT POTRA domain; a domain found in the Omp85 family of proteins which is critical for insertion and folding of outer membrane proteins in Gram-negative bacteria.

Complex roles of cyclo-oxygenase 2 in hepatitis.

There is currently insufficient evidence to support the use of COX‐2 inhibitors in treating chronic hepatitis or in preventing liver fibrosis

Orangutans use compliant branches to lower the energetic cost of locomotion.

Within the forest canopy, the shortest gaps between tree crowns lie between slender terminal branches. While the compliance of these supports has previously been shown to increase the energetic cost of gap crossing in arboreal animals (e.g.

Control of meiotic recombination in Arabidopsis: role of the MutL and MutS homologues.

Immunocytochemistry reveals that the Arabidopsis mismatch repair proteins AtMSH4, AtMLH3 and AtMLH1 are expressed during prophase I of meiosis. Expression of AtMSH4 precedes AtMLH3 and AtMLH1 which co-localize as foci during pachytene. Co-localization between AtMSH4 and AtMLH3 occurs, but appears transient.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (motor neuron disease): proposed mechanisms and pathways to treatment.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterised by loss of motor neurons. The cause of disease is unknown other than in the rare cases of familial disease arising from mutations in the superoxide dismutase 1 gene. Many theories for pathogenesis have been proposed - including oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction and abnormal protein aggregation - based on studies of human post mortem tissue, research on animal models, and in vitro work.

Birmingham assessment of breathing study (BABS).

Background: Current international resuscitation guidelines for lay people rely on the assessment of "normal breathing" as a key sign of breathing and circulation. However, it is not known how accurately laypersons can discriminate between "normal" and "abnormal" breathing. The aim of this study was to test the ability of medical students to discriminate between simulated normal and abnormal breathing patterns and select the correct treatment.

CPREzy: an evaluation during simulated cardiac arrest on a hospital bed.

CPREzy is a new adjunct designed to improve the application of manual external chest compressions (ECC) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of using the CPREzy device compared to standard CPR during the simulated resuscitation of a patient on a hospital bed. Twenty medical student volunteers were randomised using a cross over trial design to perform 3 min of continuous ECC using CPREzy and standard CPR.

The effect of rTMS over the cerebellum in normal human volunteers on peg-board movement performance.

Low frequency rTMS over the paramedian part of the right cerebellum was used to test the effects of TMS-induced disruption of the cerebellum on performance of the 10-hole pegboard task. A test group (n = 14) showed significantly increased movement times lasting about 3 min after the 5-min 1 Hz rTMS train, compared to a control group who received no rTMS (n = 14), tested in a parallel group design. The increase was greatest for the hand ipsilateral to the stimulation, but the difference between the two hands was not statistically significant.

The difficult question of sex: the mating game.

There is currently an intense interest in understanding how pollination and fertilization in flowering plants is controlled. This is because of the central and crucial importance of sexual reproduction in plant lifecycles. Plants have evolved many complex mechanisms to prevent self-fertilization, and it is thought that this may partially explain the great success of the angiosperms.

Neutrophil ageing and immunesenescence.

As humans age, their morbidity and mortality from infection increases, their response to vaccination declines and they have an increased incidence of inflammatory diseases and cancer. The reasons for these effects are clearly complex, but reduced efficiency of the innate and adaptive immune system is likely to be important in the pathology of old age. Age-related changes in the adaptive immune system are well-documented and include alterations in T cell phenotype and effector functions and a reduced ability of B cells to produce high affinity antibody.

The mycotoxin paxilline inhibits the cerebellar inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate receptor.

Paxilline, a tremorgenic alkaloid mycotoxin produced by Penicillium paxilline, is a reversible inhibitor of the cerebellar inositol 1,4, 5-trisphophate (InsP(3)) receptor. It inhibits the amount or extent of InsP(3)-induced Ca(2+) release (IICR), at sub-maximal concentrations of InsP(3), in a biphasic manner consistent with two inhibition constants (K(i)'s 6.7 and > or =400 microM).

In vitro selection for salt tolerant lines in Lycopersicon peruvianum.

A salt-tolerant callus line of Lycopersicon peruvianum has been obtained by exposing the cells, in suspension cultures and then in callus, to increasing concentrations of NaCl (50-350mM). This selected line grew better than the nonselected line at all levels of NaCl. Moreover, this selected line grew better in media containing salt than in those without it.